Attendance figures: Interesting stuff.

[Retail1LO*]

The New York ISLANDERS were the 10th best road draw, averaging 17,313 fans per game. They were the WORST home draw.

The Ducks, Lightning, Hurricanes, Devils and Stars have all won Cups in the past
10 years. None of the teams rank higher than 18th in home attendance.

The Blues, Sabres, and Senators have scarcely participated in a SCF, much less won the cup, since nearly the stone age, yet all rank in the top 12 in home attendance.

10 teams filled averaged 100% capacity or more this season. 4 of them not only failed to make the playoffs, but will probably pick in the top 10 this June.

11 teams averaged less than 90% capacity this season. 1 of them won their division and is in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

On your mark, get set, DISCUSS!

Seriously though, anyone have any pertinent thoughts?

Click to read more...

 

[Bjorn Le]

Not that interesting though I suppose someone may find it to be.

Lightning and Stars (I'm sure the Devils have too) have been top 10, even top 5 in attendence mere years ago. Attendence fluctuates for teams without historic hockey roots.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

I presume that the "below 90% team" you refer to is the Tampa Bay Lightning.

They did not win their division. Nitpicking, yes.

 

[Retail1LO*]

Not that interesting though I suppose someone may find it to be.

Lightning and Stars (I'm sure the Devils have too) have been top 10, even top 5 in attendence mere years ago. Attendence fluctuates for teams without historic hockey roots.

Oh, I'm aware of that. It's a good point. I think it's interesting that the ultimate level of success isn't necessarily enough to create, or at least sustain interest in some clubs.

The Ducks, Devils, Canes, and Lightning have all won within the last 7 years. The Devils even have a new barn and have won multiple cups over the years. Makes you wonder what's needed to sustain interest if achieving the highest level of excellence isn't enough.

 

[MountainHawk]

Islanders play in a division where 12 of their 41 road games were likely sold out or damn close. They also play in a division with two of the newer building in the league.

That probably helps the road draw #s.

 

[Retail1LO*]

I presume that the "below 90% team" you refer to is the Tampa Bay Lightning.

They did not win their division. Nitpicking, yes.

I was, and you're correct. You're permitted to nitpick. If I'm going to cite information, I should know WTF I'm talking about. LOL

My apologies.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Not that interesting though I suppose someone may find it to be.

Lightning and Stars (I'm sure the Devils have too) have been top 10, even top 5 in attendence mere years ago. Attendence fluctuates for teams without historic hockey roots.

The Lightning were setting attendance records back in 04.

 

[Retail1LO*]

Islanders play in a division where 12 of their 41 road games were likely sold out or damn close. They also play in a division with two of the newer building in the league.

That probably helps the road draw #s.

Maybe playing in Pittsburgh does...but New Jersey was one of the league's worst home draws too. So unless New Jersey drew an inordinate number of fans for games against the Isles.... I can see that though, close geographical proximity and all.

 

[Retail1LO*]

The Lightning were setting attendance records back in 04.

I remember that. It's hard to imagine with a team loaded with the likes of Stamkos, St.Louis, Lecavalier, Gagne, and Hedman...with a legend like Steve Yzerman now behind the scenes as GM...doesn't garner more interest. It's a better product than the Buccaneers or Rays currently field.

 

[Confucius]

Road attendance means little. Any team visiting Toronto gets 100% road attendance. If the same team visits Phoenix, the road attendance looks a little worse.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

The Ducks, Devils, Canes, and Lightning have all won within the last 7 years. The Devils even have a new barn and have won multiple cups over the years. Makes you wonder what's needed to sustain interest if achieving the highest level of excellence isn't enough.

Lets look at the Hurricanes' attendance numbers before and after the Cup Run.

2000-2001 13,355 (29)
2001-2002 15,508 (24)
2002-2003 15,682 (19)
2003-2004 12,330 (29)

LOCKOUT

2005-2006 15,596 (21) CUP RUN YEAR


2006-2007 17,386 (15)
2007-2008 16,633 (20)
2008-2009 16,572 (20)
2009-2010 15,240 (23)
2010-2011 16,572 (20)



So looking at these numbers, there is substantial improvement after the Cup Run. Before the Cup Run, half of the seasons featured had attendance below 14k, and all 4 seasons were below 16k.

After the Cup Run, only 1 season had attendance below 16k, and none had attendance below 14k.

I hope that answers your question.

 

[sh724]

I dont put much stock in road attendance numbers, unless every team plays every other team an equal amount of times its a rather pointless number to look at league wide. Teams play in some cities 3X a year and others they do not play in at all. You cant even compare teams in the same division because the games against the opposite conference are not the same. An East team who plays in PHX, NSH, CLB, ANA, DAL is going to have a much worse numbers than a team that plays VAN, CHI, STL, DET, MIN. The same can be said about a West team who plays in NYI, FLA, TB, ATL, NJ and does not play in PIT, MON, TOR, BOS, PHI.

 

[Confucius]

I dont put much stock in road attendance numbers, unless every team plays every other team an equal amount of times its a rather pointless number to look at league wide. Teams play in some cities 3X a year and others they do not play in at all. You cant even compare teams in the same division because the games against the opposite conference are not the same. An East team who plays in PHX, NSH, CLB, ANA, DAL is going to have a much worse numbers than a team that plays VAN, CHI, STL, DET, MIN. The same can be said about a West team who plays in NYI, FLA, TB, ATL, NJ and does not play in PIT, MON, TOR, BOS, PHI.

Exactly

 

[LadyStanley]

And how are attendance figures by day of the week?

How are teams ranked by % of capacity? If an arena only seats 17k comparing it to an arena that seats 20k is a bit of a stretch in some ways.

 

[Retail1LO*]

And how are attendance figures by day of the week?

How are teams ranked by % of capacity? If an arena only seats 17k comparing it to an arena that seats 20k is a bit of a stretch in some ways.

% capacity is a pretty fair way to compare.

It's not fair to say Team X drew 20k a game while Team Y only drew 18K a game, when Team X has a 2000 seat greater capacity. The % capacity comparison exhibits that regardless of what your capacity is, there's enough interest to fill it to "x" capacity. Some of these teams pack 'em in well over capacity, regardless of how many people the stadium seats.

 

[BeachBolt]

I remember that. It's hard to imagine with a team loaded with the likes of Stamkos, St.Louis, Lecavalier, Gagne, and Hedman...with a legend like Steve Yzerman now behind the scenes as GM...doesn't garner more interest. It's a better product than the Buccaneers or Rays currently field.

Because they very quickly went from cup, to lockout, to first round playoff exits (one being a sweep), to #1 pick in the draft, followed by two more years of picks in the top 6 as well as owners that were bankrupt and publicly fighting in the media.

There wasn't much to really build momentum on... I truly believe we will really step up our game with this new ownership and will become a truly credible franchise. That's what this organization has been lacking for so long-credibility with not only hockey fans, but the city and area itself. We will never be Toronto, Montreal, Philly, whatever...but I believe the organization can become a legitimate member of this league and it will do so in the near future.

Our season ticket base for this season (2010-11) was 9,000 (which was up from 7,500 that we had in 09-10) and I read roughly a month ago that we had added 1,000 to that number since 2011-12 sales have started and that was before the playoffs. Vinik, Leweike and Yzerman will build it.

 

[Steve Passless*]

The New York Islanders have high road attendance because if you want to go watch your local hockey team win a game, you go when the Isles are in town.

 

[Cornwall OHL]

The New York Islanders have high road attendance because if you want to go watch your local hockey team win a game, you go when the Isles are in town.

Awesome, a glass half full kind of person.

 

[DungeonK]

If a franchise can consistently pull in 15k, regardless of capacity, then they're doing fine on attendance assuming they aren't run by monkeys.

 

[obsenssive*]

Why can't americans move above the blatant over-corporatization of sport?

attendance of a team should have nothing to do with performance! that idea is simply what the corporations have created to degrade american sporting culture. There is no need on this forum to perpetuate these ridiculous and idiotic ideas of performance and variety in sport.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

attendance of a team should have nothing to do with performance! that idea is simply what the corporations have created to degrade american sporting culture. There is no need on this forum to perpetuate these ridiculous and idiotic ideas of performance and variety in sport.

Why not?


I don't know about Canada, but here in America, people are not going to pay for a shoddy product.

It's a cultural thing I guess. We demand the best. All or nothing. Win or GTFO.

 

[finchster]

Why can't americans move above the blatant over-corporatization of sport?

attendance of a team should have nothing to do with performance! that idea is simply what the corporations have created to degrade american sporting culture. There is no need on this forum to perpetuate these ridiculous and idiotic ideas of performance and variety in sport.

Sports in North America are nothing like sports in Europe. Sports teams here were created for the sole purpose of making money. It is slightly different from many soccer teams that started out as amateur teams that represented a community, or a team like Celtic that started as a way to raise money for charity. Fans will obviously have a different mentality, but even bad years can still chase some fans away.

Seems like sports teams here lack a soul, but on the plus side North America doesn’t have hooligan firms following ECHL clubs on game day, so it is a fair trade .

Calling out Americans over “blatant over-corporatization of sport”, in the context of American sports is like complaining about the over corporatization of corporations

 

[Steve Passless*]

Awesome, a glass half full kind of person.

I was kidding. The prolonged sucking of the Islanders makes me sad.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The Ducks, Lightning, Hurricanes, Devils and Stars have all won Cups in the past
10 years. None of the teams rank higher than 18th in home attendance.

The Blues, Sabres, and Senators have scarcely participated in a SCF, much less won the cup, since nearly the stone age, yet all rank in the top 12 in home attendance.

I get tired of over-simplifications like this.

The Blues, Sabres and Sens have all had powerhouse teams in the past decade. What is more relevant to long-term ticket sales -- six months of being the top team in the league, or a six-week hot streak?

On the flip side, the Ducks, Canes and Lightning were horrible teams the year before. What is more relevant to 2011 ticket sales, being the 2004 champion or being in the bottom third of the league in 2010?

 

[Grudy0]

attendance of a team should have nothing to do with performance! that idea is simply what the corporations have created to degrade american sporting culture. There is no need on this forum to perpetuate these ridiculous and idiotic ideas of performance and variety in sport.

I'm going to say something that is evident, but still needs to be said:

Hockey is the number one sport in Canada. It explains why the Leafs and Canadiens are the number one and two teams in the NHL in terms of revenue per game, but for the life of me I can't understand why the Leafs are given that pass.

Meanwhile, how are those Blue Jays and Expos doing? The Expos died from fan apathy and the Blue Jays most glorious years for attendance were when gasp they were competitive?

Attendance of a team has everything to do with performance, unless it is the number one sport for a given area. The I-95 corridor sells out every NFL game, even though some of the teams are run like a preschool. But take a look at some other sports along the I-95 corridor, and you'll realize that the competitiveness of the team is a requirement.

One cannot equate a super-hyper hockey market and their attendance against other cities that are failing to sellout where ownership doesn't appear to put forth a good effort and hockey isn't the top sport.